Between the Lines

Part 7

Luke's POV

Michael and I had been hanging out practically every day. Throughout these few weeks I had become a lot more comfortable around him and Calum. It had gotten to a point where I'd accept invites to go out to eat and actually eat.

Calum wasn't always with us because according to Mikey he'd started hanging out with a guy who he assumed he'd eventually go out with. With or without Cal, Mikey and I always had a fun time. Whether it was listening to music or watching movies, I was starting to open up.

I was laying in bed writing in my notebook when my phone started ringing.

"It's gettin hot in here! So take off all your clothes!! I am gettin so hot I wanna take my clothes off!"

Nice one Clifford.

"Hey Lip Ring! Like the new ringtone? Suiting huh? Anyway, get your ass down here. We're gonna get jiggy with it tonight." Michael exclaims through the phone. He hangs up before I answer.

I laugh to myself and start to get ready. Throwing one of the million Nirvana shirts I own and black skinnies, as per usual. I grab my keys and head to Michael's, messing with my hair as I walk.

Michael opens the door before I get the chance to knock and pushes me out the door along with him, his arm slung around my shoulders.

"Tonight my friend, is gonna be fucking awesome." He states.

"What's in the bag?"

"Alcohol dude. To the roof!"

He always gets so excited about drinking.

Michael ended up wasted and I was pretty drunk. We were laying on the roof listening to Brand New, looking up at the stars with Michael giggling at nothing.

"Hey Luuuukeeeyyyy haha" he slurred.

"Yes Michael?"

"You have an eating disorder don't you? You like hardly eat. And your cheekbones are like maleficent dude. Hahaha that was a good movie. But like you're so skinny." He says as he plays with the end of my shirt.

"Um," I sigh.

"Of course you do! Look I feel your ribs!" He says as he pokes at my abdomen.

"Yea. I guess." I reply in defeat.

He laughs to himself mumbling something I didn't quite catch.

"What'd you say?" I ask.

"I just *hiccup* said that I figured it out. *hiccup*"

"Figured what out?" I was thoroughly confused, not to mention slightly out of it due to the alcohol running through me.

"Reid." He states, as if that makes it any clearer.

I was about to continue my interrogation when Michael started gagging. His usually rosy cheeks turned an alarming shade of white and his pale face was slightly tinged green.

He was gonna throw up.

"Shit Mikey. Come on. Let's go back to your room yea? Come on, I need to get you some water." I try to lift him to a sitting position but he slumps back and my thin frame almost collapses under him.

"No Lukey I'm fiiiine!" He exclaims in a high pitched voice.

"I'll give you cookies if you come with me." I bribe, hoping that he'll take the bait.

"Really?? Okay let's go then Captain Lip Ring!!" He stumbles to a standing position and I sling his arm over my shoulder and wrap my arm around his waist, making sure he was stable enough to climb down and get back to his dorm.

"Fuuuck. Hey. Hey. Lukey." He calls out.

"Yes Mikey?"

"I feel kinda weird." He fumbles with his footing and I struggle to balance us once again.

"I know. We're almost there. Come on just a bit further." I coax.

"Okay!!" He squeals.

The door was, thankfully, unlocked and just as I got Michael into the bathroom he hurls into the sink. The smell overflowing my senses, causing me to gag. I step out, regaining my breath and sobering up as much as I could. I knew I had to get that poor drunk boy into a cold shower.

I take a deep breath, readying myself. I step back in to see Michael sitting on the cool tile floor, clothes splattered in barf.

"Oh Mikey. Oh no. It's okay. I got you it's okay. Let's get you into the shower yea?" I try to calm him down, not wanting to see my drunk friend in that position.

He nods and I continue to remove his shirt and struggle to take off his tight black jeans. I get him to sit in the clean white tub and I start running the cold water over his hair and chest, trying to wash away the vomit.

I start rubbing soap and shampoo all over him. When I reach his arms with the suds he inhales sharply.

That's when I see them.

Cuts. Old and new. Scars tainting his milky, soft skin. I realize what he meant now. Why Reid put us together. My poem was about pain. His was too.

He coughs and I snap back into reality. I now notice that I was holding his arm and staring, wide-eyed, at the self mutilation that had happened on his arms.

"Michael, I-" I don't know what to say.

"You what Luke?" He spits at me.

His sudden anger scaring me into shyness.

"Don't say you understand. You don't. Go home Luke." He stands and grabs the blue towel that was hanging from the hook on the wall.

I don't move. Just stand there. Trying to process the fact that the best friend I had made in this place could be in such pain. I mentally scold myself for being so clueless.

"Luke! Can't you hear me?? I said get the hell home!" Michael yells.

I start to back away towards the door, scared of the fuming boy standing before me.

His face softens for a second as he sees the look of sheer terror in my eyes while I hurry to gather my things, continuously looking back at him.

"Luke-" he chokes out but I slam the door and start to run before he gets a chance to finish.

"Fuckfuckfuck" I mutter all the way home, knowing I won't be eating for the next few days.

A few hours pass by of me sitting in bed going over every conversation, thinking about every single thing he wore, questioning myself if I saw any signs.

The second hand ticks louder and louder until my thoughts are muddled and I'm trembling. My heart beats as fast as the hammering of the clock and my forehead begins to perspire.

Panic attack.

I get up from my bed and pace back and forth. Michael's forceful words yelling on a loop in my mind. The picture of his cut up wrists flashing through my eyes. I stumble into the bathroom and that's when I black out.

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IM SO SORRY I TOOK 352829 YEARS TO UPDATE I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! LISTEN TO THE SONG I ADDED ❤️❤️❤️❤️